Partial Reopening on Hydra

Today for the first time in almost six months, it was possible to sit down, order a coffee and drink it from a proper cup without walking around with it.

It's such a simple thing but certainly, on Hydra, it's the little things that make up most people's daily routines. You finish your shopping, then you can stop for coffee. You've done a job, you get coffee. Bank or post office visited, you need a  coffee. And for some people, you get up and your day doesn't start until you have coffee in front of you on the port. It's not just a refreshment. It's the time when everyone stops to enjoy the port, to see who's around, to catch up with friends and to have human contact that, even the most reclusive person agrees, has been hard to cope without since November last year.

So today, Pascha Monday, 3 May 2021, the Greek government allowed Cafes, Bars and Restaurants to reopen. And quite a few people on Hydra came to town for the simple pleasure of morning coffee.

There are still restrictions and of course as tourism doesn't open until 15 May, very few of the restaurants or bars feel it's worth opening until then.

For a start, it's just a local release. The nationwide movement ban and requirement for essential work and emergency travel only, means that officially visitors still can't get here for another twelve days. Everyone must still wear masks, inside or out-of-doors. Only six people can sit together unless it's a family bubble. But when you are sitting, you can take your mask off. And everyone must still use the SMS permit system with number 6 as their reason for being out. Six has been the number we've all been using to go out for personal exercise. Obviously in this case it's now the number needed to exercise arms (lifting cups to mouth), and squatting as an alternative to walking (bending at the hips in order to sit on a chair).

Now that the cafes at least have reopened, along with the shops, and the children can return to school on the 10th, it feels as though we're getting reacquainted with 'normality'. Having a dress rehearsal, so we'll be ready when tourism restarts on the 15th.

Best regards, Kelsey